O'Neill warns of Celtic squad overhaul this summer

Interim Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has warned of a major squad overhaul this summer, as the club braces for a top-heavy roster swelled by returning loanees and fringe players. Speaking ahead of the Scottish Premiership title run-in, O'Neill highlighted the challenge of integrating academy prospects amid the influx.

Celtic's squad is expected to balloon to around 30 first-team players when loanees such as Maik Nawrocki, Luis Palma, Johnny Kenny, Stephen Welsh, Hayato Inamura and Shin Yamada report back for preseason at Lennoxtown. Expiring loans and contracts will further complicate matters, prompting O'Neill to call for departures to create space. "We will have a topheavy squad come the end of the season or come when people are reporting back," O'Neill said. "I did not realise how big it is. To bring new people in, you'll have to. Absolutely. You couldn't cope with that."

O'Neill, who is focused on the final five games, has already begun assessing options behind the scenes. He and assistant Mark Fotheringham attended Celtic's B team friendly against Brentford at Barrowfield last Tuesday, which the hosts won 4-0. The under-18s or under-19s match impressed him, particularly the...